Scientific Reasoning
Science is the most successful way humans have found to produce
knowledge of the world. But the success of science lies in the fact
that it is not just a collection of facts and theories -- science's
success comes from critical attitudes and methodologies.
This course covers topics essential for understanding scientific
reasoning. By the end of the course, students will understand the
concepts of logical validity and soundness, laws of nature and
scientific models, causation, principles of statistical reasoning,
experimental design, and pseudoscience. Other topics may include
ethics in science, decision theory, and scientific realism.